The La Cañada High School Challenge Success Committee — which consists of community members and students — held its third Challenge Success: Building Your Path event, where students got a chance to learn more deeply about various career paths on Sept. 30.
Students and parents were welcomed to the high school with a light breakfast and a chance to hear from keynote speaker and radio journalist for NPR, Kai Ryssdal.
A common theme in the event was not only finding your path but learning that each path is different.
“While the GPA is important — the places to apply are clearly important if you want to continue your education — they are not ends in themselves,” said Principal James Cartnal as he was opening up the event. “They are the road or the pathway for you to achieve what is your successful life.”
Ryssdal — who originally joined the U.S. Navy and was a pilot and officer stationed at the Pentagon — was 34 years old working at Borders bookstore. He was about to have his first baby, and was not really sure what his next step in life was.
“But then I decided that I don’t want to keep going to sea for the next 30 years, six months at a time, leaving my family,” said Ryssdal.
With a little push from his wife, he started interning at KQED, and started a new career from scratch. He has since fallen in love with journalism.
“I don’t think it’s actually about building your path,” said Ryssdal. “I would suggest you don’t build your path, so much as you find it or sometimes, as it did to me, your path finds you.”
For the last 18 years, Ryssdal has hosted “Marketplace” on NPR and has interviewed former President Barack Obama at the White House, along with many others.
After hearing from Ryssdal, more than 400 students and parents combined were sent on their way to pick which speakers they wanted to hear from.
The 36 presenters’ careers ranged from comic book writers, actors, CEOs, cardiologists and even athletes and musicians.
Community members not only learned about each career, but the journey and mindset that each presenter went through to get where they are today.
One presenter, Kathryn Aposhian, said she had no idea what she wanted to do after she graduated from college. After her father asked her, “What are your values?” she started to think deeply about her career options.
With a list of values that included teamwork, responsibility, growth, usefulness and adventure, Aposhian was able to then try out jobs that fit those values in some way or form, which eventually landed her a position as the CEO for a clothing brand and founder and CEO of ClearWest Communications, a public relations firm.
“Instead of identifying the industries that you want to be in growing up, you start with your personal values,” said Aposhian. “So what matters most to you, personally, will translate well into what you want to do professionally.”
Since then, Aposhian has always revisited her values when considering a career change.
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream franchise owner Lisa Hall told students to keep their options open and try out various clubs and jobs while deciding what they would like to do for a living.
Hall asked students to think about who they are and what strengths or gifts they possess.
“Find something you’re good at,” said Hall. “But if you don’t get hired, don’t give up.”
“I’ve had so many different jobs, it’s crazy, and two careers,” said Hall. “I was 53 years old when I changed careers. I’m now 56, and my whole life has been turned upside down in the last three years, and I love it. But it was scary.”
Other presenters such as James Lee prepared students for what is to come in the future of technology and careers. Lee, who was working at a law firm, decided to make his own online AI program called LegalMation that answers basic questions in lawsuits.
“This is really brainless work,” said Lee. “And so, if people are proud cutting and pasting, shame on them, because that’s really brainless activity. So, this is where AI is good at — brainless activity, where there is a lot of cutting and pasting.”
He now considers himself an AI architect, getting ahead of the curve in technology.
“I was always afraid of being stuck on a particular innovation curve,” said Lee. “You’ve got to be prepared for the next innovation curve.”
Lauren DeFlores, an engineer for the Mars Perseverance Rover for JPL, also talked about making a slight career change and taking what she learned from Mars and bringing it back to Earth.
“I realized that I could start applying my skills to technology in the philanthropic sector, of developing equipment in Third World countries [to help more people],” said DeFlores. “So, I started a foundation called the Saturn Foundation.”
She has since developed a baby warmer for developing countries where hypothermia is the leading cause of infant deaths.
“Sometimes we have to come back home, and take care of our people here,” said DeFlores. “And so that’s kind of where I feel like my energy should be spent in the second half of my career. And I’m happy to pivot and do something in the future if it makes sense.”
Video game developer Alexander Seropian talked about the evolution of video games and the comfort they provide.
“I think video games are super special, because as far as the play goes, it’s so unique,” said Seropian. “Video games don’t just entertain us, they can provide escape, you can go to a whole new world.”
He also touched on the technical and challenging parts of the job as well.
“There’s lots of different roles in video games and making video games,” said Seropian. “I think of it as one of the hardest jobs because it’s a blend of artistry and technology.”
Cartnal was ecstatic about the results from the event.
“We have a great community who supports our schools in so many ways,” Cartnal told the Outlook Valley Sun. “Our event on Saturday was just another example. Our speakers [were] from a broad group of professional fields who see the value in sharing with students’ information about careers and how to get there.”
The message of finding your path is constant throughout a student’s life.
“We understand and want our students to work hard and do as well as they can in their classes, but what will really matter for them in terms of living a ‘successful life’ is to become educated and try to work in fields that interest them and from which they can make a living,” said Cartnal. “This is a deeply personal thing, and each person must find or discover their own path — hence the name.”
First published in the October 5 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
